Four women and a seven-month-old child have lost their lives after the canoe they boarded from Nguru, Yobe State, to Adiyani village in the Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State, capsized on Tuesday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Adam, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the canoe capsized when the victims were close to reaching their destination, adding that during the accident, the helmsman escaped, while the passengers drowned.
Adam said, “On September 6, 2022, around 6pm, information at our disposal revealed that around 4.30pm, four women and a child boarded a canoe from Nguru, Yobe State, to Adiyani village in Guri LGA of Jigawa State.
“After the canoe capsized, local divers immediately entered the river for rescue operation. Three corpses were recovered. The victims include, Yaniwura Kasagama, 50, Lafiya Bulama, 40, and Mai-Madu Bulama, seven-month-old.”
Adam said the corpses were taken to the Adiyani Primary Health Care, where they were certified dead by health personnel, adding that the two remaining two corpses were later recovered.
“Their identities include Badejaka Kasagama, 40, and Gimto Kasagama, 40, all of Adiyani village. The investigation is ongoing,” he said.
